3 Christmas Crazy (7 page)

“Did you hear about Tanner Brown?” I asked Jeremy, who was working on the new cages we were building at the shelter.

“Yeah. Everyone is talking about it. Any idea who did it?”

“Not a clue. The gang and I are working on it.”

“Figured you would be. Heard they closed the community center. They plan to move Santa’s Village to the gym at the high school. What are we going to do?”

“Solve a murder.”

“I figured you’d say that, too. I was thinking about possible suspects and wondered if anyone had picked up Buddy,” Jeremy said.

Buddy! How could I have forgotten about Tanner’s golden retriever?

“I’ll head over there now,” I decided. “I’ll leave Lambda here with you but take Charlie. If the poor dog has been left alone, he might be a bit skittish.”

“Okay. Let me know if you need me to do anything,” Jeremy offered.

During the forty years or so that Tanner had owned the little house near the marina, the area had changed from a downtrodden fishing village to an upscale resort dominated by high-dollar vacation rentals. I knew that several of Tanner’s neighbors had complained about his failure to keep up exterior maintenance over the years, but until I pulled up in front of the dilapidated house sandwiched between two lakefront estates, I hadn’t realized how much the marina had really changed.

I knocked on the door in case Agatha had returned to the two-bedroom cottage. When she didn’t answer, I let myself in. Buddy was nowhere in sight, but there was a note on the kitchen table, letting whomever might come looking that the next-door neighbor on the right had taken the dog to her place after she’d learned of Tanner’s death. I decided to check out the situation, so I left and walked down the beach to the neighboring house.

“Morning,” I greeted the woman, who was shoveling the snow from her deck. “My name is Zoe Donovan. I came by to check on Buddy and saw your note.”

“You’re the one who works at the shelter.” The woman looked to be in her midfifties, with thick brown hair peppered with gray twisted into a braid that trailed down her back.

“I did.”

“I heard the shelter closed down and didn’t know who to call, so I brought Buddy over here when I heard about Tanner. It’s such a shame.”

“It really is,” I agreed.

“Come on in. I could use a break anyway. We’ll have a cup of coffee and chat about what to do about Buddy. He’s such a sweet old dog.”

I was willing to bet that Buddy had already found a home with a woman who seemed to care about him.

Unlike Tanner’s little shack, the woman, who introduced herself as Polly, lived in a large three-story structure that had to contain at least five thousand square feet of beautiful living space. Polly indicated that I should take a seat at the little breakfast table tucked inside a nook overlooking the lake while she made the coffee.

“Your home is beautiful,” I commented.

“Thanks. I like it.”

“I had no idea the area had changed so much over the past few years. Last time I was over this way, the houses all looked more like Tanner’s.”

I could hear a dog barking and kids laughing in the background. I imagined that Buddy was playing with the woman’s kids or grandkids.

“Four years ago Edward Harrington built that huge house on the west edge of the village,” Polly explained. “Once that house went in, the perceived value of the surrounding property rose exponentially. Within the next two years, most of the previous residents sold their property for a huge profit. The little old homes were torn down, and the new, bigger ones were built in their place. Tanner was the last holdout. I can’t tell you how many people have tried to buy his property, but he steadfastly refused to sell.”

“I guess that didn’t go over too well with his neighbors.”

“Not at all. Several of the people in the area, including Gary Conway, his neighbor on the other side, complained to the town about Tanner’s eyesore. Most hoped the city would force him to sell, or at least modernize his property, but the town attorney determined that having a small house—even a small, run-down house—wasn’t against the law. Their hands were tied.”

Sounded like a motive for murder to me.

“I know this is none of my business,” I began, “but can you give me an idea what Tanner’s property would likely go for?”

“Couple million, at least.”

A couple million?
That sounded like another motive for murder. I assumed that ex-wife Agatha was now the sole owner of the property, able to sell if she chose.

“Wow. I can’t believe Tanner held out for so long. He could have retired.”

“I think that was his plan,” Polly said. “He mentioned that he planned to sell his boat as well as his house and move to Arizona.”

So much for motives. If he planned to sell the house and his neighbors knew that, then why kill him? All they’d needed to do was wait. And Agatha? Sure, two-million dollars was better than one, but was double the money worth the risk? Knowing Agatha, I doubted it.

I really hate it when I think I’m getting somewhere but then quickly discover I’m not.

“So about Buddy . . .” I began. “I’m happy to take him, if need be, but I’m sure he’d rather stay here with you and your kids until all the details are worked out.”

“Grandkids,” Polly corrected. “And I’d be happy to keep him. Buddy and I have forged a relationship of sorts since I’ve lived here. I already spoke to Penelope, but she wants nothing to do with the dog.”

I wasn’t surprised to hear that Penelope didn’t want Buddy, because Kendra had complained to me on more than one occasion that her mother wouldn’t let her have animals when she was growing up, which was most likely why she was afraid of them now
.

“So unless Agatha wants him,” Polly continued, “consider my home to
be his new home.”

“Fantastic,” I said. “I’ll see if I can track down Agatha and let you know what she wants to do. I’ve known her for a long time, and she’s never really liked the dog. She’s definitely more of a cat person.”

“You mean a black-cat person,” Polly teased.

“I guess you’ve heard about her little hobby.”

“I have. It’s fascinating, really. Still, I agree that Buddy will be better off with me.”

After I left the marina,
I decided to stop by the high school and check on Santa’s Village. Sheriff Salinger wouldn’t let anyone inside the community center, so the extensive backdrop that made the Village so magical was missing, but someone had set up a chair and ropes for the line. I saw that Pappy was in attendance as the jolly old man himself.

“Have you heard from Earl?” I asked Hazel, who was managing the long line of sugared-up kids.

“He’s still in the hospital. I heard he’s expected to be in there a few more days at least.”

“Was he seriously injured?”

“A broken leg, a sprained wrist, a slight concussion, and a load of cuts and bruises. The biggest problem is his inability to get around on his own.”

“Charlie and I will stop in and check on him later.” I looked across the room to where Charlie was entertaining a group of children. “It seems like Santa’s
Village is doing well in spite of the last-minute change in venue.”

“It’s such a shame we weren’t able to move the Village.” The mechanical elves, bucking reindeer, and forest animals took days to set up. Even if Salinger did let a crew in to retrieve the props, it wouldn’t be feasible to move everything. “The kids don’t seem to mind, but a lot of the adults have commented that the Village just isn’t the same withou
t them.”

“I have to admit I’m a little worried about the pet adoption.”

“Surely the sheriff will open the center by Wednesday?”

“I hope so, but you never know what Salinger will do.” I waved at Willa Walton, who was handing out candy canes. “Maybe the weather will hold and I can find an outdoor venue.”

“I heard there was a forty-percent chance of snow next weekend,” Hazel pointed out.

“Yeah, but that translates to a sixty-percent chance of no snow. I prefer to remain optimistic at this point.” I smiled as one of the kids put a Santa hat on Charlie, who very patiently posed for a photo.

“I’ve noticed your ads around town. You’ve managed to generate quite a bit of interest. It was a good idea to include the photos of some of the pets that will face death if not adopted.”

“Some of the other shelters in the county have called in the past few days. We’re up to forty dogs and thirteen cats.”

“That’s a lot even for you,” Hazel pointed out.

“I know, but I have a good feeling about the weekend. There’s this holiday energy in the air. Now all I have to do is solve a murder and we’ll be set.”

“Maybe you could use one of the other classrooms in the school.”

“I’ve already asked him, and Principal
Lamebrain said no. In fact, he’s trying to figure out a way to revoke the permit I already have for the gym. He says that I didn’t disclose that the facility would be used to house animals at the time I applied to use it.”

“Do you think he’ll pull the permit?” Hazel wondered.

“No. It’d be bad publicity for the school. There are fliers in every business with a bulletin board within sixty miles, and ads in every paper. It’d look bad if he canceled the event for no good reason.”

“Zoe.” My dad walked up and kissed me on the cheek as Hazel excused herself. “I’d like you to meet Blythe Ravenwood. She just recently moved to Ashton Falls.”

“Glad to meet you.” I smiled suspiciously at the woman, who looked a bit more chummy with my father than I was comfortable with.

“Blythe is a retired schoolteacher,” my dad informed me. “She bought the old Thompson place.”

“Your father has been such a gem, helping me with the remodel,” Blythe said.

“You’ve been helping?” I was surprised he hadn’t mentioned his new lady friend before today.

“Blythe came into the store a month or so ago looking for supplies. I offered to help her with a few projects. The house is coming along real nice.”

“You’ll have to come to Sunday dinner so I can show you what we’ve done,” Blythe invited. “Perhaps this weekend?”

“I appreciate the invitation, but I’m pretty busy for the next few weeks. Maybe after the New Year.”

“Of course, dear. I forget how busy you youngsters are likely to get.”

I tried not to take offense at the
dear
and y
oungsters
, but I was pretty sure I hated my dad’s new friend already. Keep in mind that I prefer a predictable equilibrium in my most important relationships, and the fact that my dad had a new friend he hadn’t mentioned to me wasn’t sitting well at all.

“Your dad told me you recently lost your job.”

“Yeah, the county closed the shelter, but I’m working to reopen it as a private enterprise.”

“Really? Where did you get your business degree?”

“I don’t have a degree, but I know what I’m doing,” I assured the pushy woman.”

“I’m sure you do, dear.”

“Zoe is extremely organized and very smart,” my dad assured the woman. “In fact, she’s serving as the chairperson for this year’s Hometown Christmas.”

“Quite an honor for such a young woman.”

“I’m twenty-four,” I pointed out.

“I apologize. I thought you were younger. Perhaps it’s the hair. I can recommend a good hairdresser in Bryton Lake. A professional image is so important nowadays.”

“Thanks, but I have my own hairdresser.” The fact of the matter is, due to my petite size and slight frame, I’m often mistaken for a fourteen-year-old. Most times I don’t mind the assumption, but Daddy’s new friend was most definitely rubbing me the wrong way. I know; I promised to try to be more open-minded about the leeches who attach themselves to my people. And I’d made great progress with Barbie, Levi’s yoga-instructor girlfriend. But my dad? That was another matter altogether.

“Blythe and I were just heading out to do some shopping, but I saw you talking to Hazel and wanted to introduce you.”

“It was nice to meet you,” I said politely. “Have a nice time shopping. And Dad,” I added, “call me later. It’s important.”

“I will.” My dad kissed me on the cheek again and then ushered Blythe toward the door.

After leaving Santa’s
Village, I called Levi and Ellie and asked if they wanted to come over for a strategy session that evening. They both agreed and were pulling up just as I arrived home. Ellie had volunteered to bring something to make for dinner, so Levi suggested that he take the dogs out for a run on the beach while Ellie and I prepared what she’d brought.

“Have you met my dad’s new girlfriend?” I asked as we began gathering supplies for the casserole we were making.

“Your dad has a girlfriend?”

“Her name is Blythe Ravenwood. Apparently, she’s just moved to town. I’m pretty sure she’s evil.”

“Evil?” Ellie laughed as she began browning ground beef in a frying pan.

“She called me
dear
and said I looked younger than twenty-four.”

“
Dear
is a term of endearment, and we both know you
do
look younger than twenty-four.”

“She has a wide streak of gray in otherwise black hair,” I said as I handed Ellie the sour cream. “I’m pretty sure that’s a witch thing.”

Ellie rolled her eyes. “I thought you were going to try to work on this irrational jealousy you have toward everyone who tries to penetrate your inner circle.”

“I know.” I sighed. “It’s just that my dad has known her a
month
and he’s just now mentioning her?”

“I’m sure there’s nothing serious going on between them. If there was, he would have told you.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“As soon as you finish slicing the mushrooms, go ahead and start the water for the noodles,” Ellie instructed.

Ellie was making her easy ground beef stroganoff, which smelled heavenly.

“Levi mentioned that you were going to get a tree for Santa’s
Village tomorrow,” Ellie said as she stirred the sour cream into the beef-and-mushroom mixture.

“Yeah. I’m afraid Santa’s Village needs all the help it can get, and I figured it would be nice to have one for the pet adoption as well. Want to come?”

“I wish I could, but I have to work. Whatever you do, don’t let Levi pick the tree. He always cuts the one closest to the road for his own place. A nice big tree with full branches will put everyone in the Christmas spirit.”

“Don’t worry
. I’ll make sure we get a big one. Can you hand me that olive oil?” I asked as I prepared a salad to go with the casserole.

“Of course, we still need to solve Tanner’s murder. Any luck with the investigation?” Ellie asked as she gave me the bottle.

“I went by Tanner’s house today,” I informed her. “I wanted to check on Buddy but ended up having a nice conversation with a neighbor. Have you been over to the marina lately?”

“Not for a few years. I hear it’s changed.”

“Like how.” I described the new homes and upscale atmosphere, and filled Ellie in on Tanner’s refusal to sell until recently, and his neighbors’ distress over living next to what amounted to less than a shack in comparison to their homes. As I had, Ellie speculated over whether his refusal to sell could have been a motive for murder, but I argued that the timing seemed off because he had recently changed his mind.

“Yeah, but what if the killer didn’t know he had changed his mind?” Ellie asked. “It seems like his decision to cash in and move was pretty recent.”

I hadn’t thought of that, but she was right. Maybe one of his uppity neighbors had killed him in order to remove the eyesore they thought they were stuck with.

“It seems like we have a lot of different motives
, but I don’t see how we’re going to narrow it down.” I sighed.

“You can eliminate Agatha. Mom said she moved to Salem, Massachusetts, a month ago. She was on a pilgrimage to find the roots of her witchy heritage.”

“Okay, so that leaves us with his competitors and his neighbors,” I summarized.

“Whoever killed Tanner was most likely seen at the community center by someone the night he was killed. The room where Tanner died is in the back of the building, but the back door was locked. Someone had to have come in through the front door. We can make a list of neighbors and competitors and ask Hazel who was there.”

“Good idea.” Hazel had been monitoring the door most of the evening. “I wonder what, if anything, Salinger has uncovered.”

“If you talk to Zak, you should ask him to snoop around to see what he can find out. He did help you out by hacking into the coroner’s records when you were investigating the turkey farm murder last month. I’d be willing to bet he can get into Salinger’s files as well.”

“Let’s just hope he doesn’t end up in jail.”

“Who’s in jail?” Levi walked in through the back door with the dogs.

“No one yet. We were thinking of asking Zak to hack into Salinger’s files,” I explained.

“Zak knows what he’s doing. I wouldn’t worry about it,” Levi assured me. “If we’re talking murder, I found out some info on the fishing-boat controversy. It seems that Gilbert French wasn’t raking in the bucks with his high-tech fishing charters like you might think. In fact, the exact opposite was pretty much occurring. Most of the men and women who come to the lake to fish do so because of the laid-back atmosphere. Based on what I’ve been told, Gilbert was seriously thinking about folding up his boat and moving to a bigger lake. One of the guys at the high school told me that Gilbert had already spoken with a commercial fishing enterprise on Lake Superior.”

“So Gilbert would have no motive to kill Tanner,” I realized. “What about some other competitor?”

“My contact seemed to think that with Gilbert leaving the scene, the equilibrium that had always existed
among the charter boats would be restored.”

“I thought someone sabotaged Tanner’s boat,” I pointed out. “Wasn’t that the reason he was moving in the first place?”

“Word around the lake is that it was Agatha who was behind the problem with the boat. She’d wanted to cash out and leave the area for quite some time. Apparently, Tanner gave her some money for a trip with the promise to tie things up while she was gone. As strange as this sounds, it seems like Tanner and Agatha were getting along better than ever once she left and he agreed to move on.”

“So that leaves us with a disgruntled neighbor who may not have known that Tanner finally decided to sell,” Ellie said.

“Ken Barnett told me that Tanner listed the house with him two weeks ago. Ken attended the last homeowners’ meeting and asked for cooperation during the sale,” Levi informed us.

“There’s a homeowners’ association?” I asked. “In Ashton Falls?”

“I guess after new people moved here and built those million-dollar houses, they wanted to protect their investment and formed their own association.”

“So if Tanner’s competitors don’t have a motive and his neighbors don’t have a motive and Agatha is on the East Coast, we’re back to square one.”

“Looks like it,” Levi stated the obvious.

“Anyone have any other ideas?” I asked.